Benefits of ISO 27001 Certification

Accredited certification to ISO/IEC 27001 demonstrates to existing and potential customers that an organisation has defined and put in place best-practice information security processes. ISO 27001 is the only auditable international standard that defines the requirements of an information security management system (ISMS). An ISMS is a set of policies, procedures, processes and systems that manage information risks, such as cyber attacks, hacks, data leaks or theft (the benefits of implementing an ISMS can be found here.)

This page outlines the benefits of ISO 27001 certification.

By implementing an ISMS certified to ISO 27001, your organisation can:
	Win new business and retain your existing customers Not only does ISO 27001 certification help you to demonstrate good security practices, thereby improving working relationships and retaining existing clients, but also gives you a proven marketing edge against your competitors, putting you alongside the likes of Google, Microsoft and Verizon.
	Avoid the financial penalties and losses associated with data breaches The average cost of a data breach is estimated at $3.79 million (€3.16 million), according to IBM. ISO 27001 is the accepted global benchmark for the effective management of information assets, enabling organisations to avoid costly penalties due to non-compliance with data protection requirements and financial losses due to data breaches.
	Protect and enhance your reputation Cyber attacks are increasing in volume and strength daily, and the financial and reputational damage caused by an ineffectual information security posture can be fatal. Implementing an ISO 27001-certified ISMS helps to protect your organisation against such threats and demonstrates that you have taken the necessary steps to protect your business.
	Comply with business, legal, contractual and regulatory requirements The Standard is designed to ensure the selection of adequate and proportionate security controls that help to protect information in line with increasingly rigid regulatory requirements such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive and other cyber security laws.
	Improve structure and focus When a business grows rapidly, it doesn't take long before there is confusion about who is responsible for which information assets. The Standard helps businesses become more productive by clearly setting out information risk responsibilities.
	Reduce the need for frequent audits By providing a globally accepted indication of security effectiveness, ISO 27001 certification negates the need for repeated customer audits, reducing the number of external customer audit days.
	Obtain an independent opinion about your security posture Accredited certification to ISO 27001 involves undertaking regular reviews and internal audits of the ISMS to ensure its continual improvement. An external auditor will also review the ISMS at specific intervals to establish whether the controls are working as intended. This independent assessment provides an expert opinion of whether the ISMS is functioning properly and provides the level of security needed to protect the organisation’s information.